Pendulum abduction frame



{ 3 1934- J. R. SIEBRANDT 1,964,930

PENDULUM ABDUGT ION FRAME Filed Feb. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Jab/7 A. Ska/"000 i A TTORNE Y.

July 3, 1934.

J. R. SIEBRANDT PENDULUM ABDUCTI ON FRAME Filed Feb. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTOR. 4/0/20 R. 5/220/6 /107,

Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES ATENT DFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to surgical apparatus, and aims to devise an improved form of fracture appliance adapted to be mounted upon bed frames for use in abduction work, particularly in the treatment of arm and shoulder fractures.

Accordingly, my invention comprises an improved form of abduction frame, adapted to be attached to the framework of a bed, and operable to support a splint structure for cradling the arm of the patient, together with adjustable weight devices for not only balancing the splint and its connections but also for the application of suitable tensioning where traction is necessary in the treatment of the fracture. v

The invention also comprises certain improvements in the splint structure, as well as a novel form of cradle structure carried by the splint for the support of the forearm when the arm is to be maintained flexed at the elbow.

It is also sought to provide an improved construction of the type indicated in which the splint structure is supported by a pivotal mounting attached to the bed, and movable automatically about an axis approximating the pelvic region of the patient, in order that the patient may move into or out of sitting position with as great comfort as possible. For this purpose, the splint support is of a pivotal counterbalanced character,

and the weights for eiiecting the tractive action are also so arranged as to accommodate all the movements of the apparatus without disturbing the various adjustments or interfering with the movements of the patient.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a splint appliance for abduction operations which is adapted to be attached to or removed from a pendulum support without disturbing the traction adjustment, and also permitting such correction of the adjustment as may be necessary,

and restoring the action of the weights for maintaining the traction whenever the splint structure is reapplied to the pendulum support.

With the foregoing general objects in view, as

5 well as various minor objects as will appear in the course of the detailed specification, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical and efiicient form of construction which I have devised for embodying the various features of improvement, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an abduction apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and shown as applied to a bed supporting a patient in reclining position;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the parts conforming to the movement of the patient into sitting position;

Figure 3 is also a perspective view, but showing the apparatus attached to the bed for supporting the splint structure at the opposite side thereof, for treatment of the other arm, as well as showing the base mounting extended for carrying a longer splint device, as required for supporting the arm in fully abducted position;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the connection between the splint and pendulum arm;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adjustable base member by which the apparatus is secured to a bed frame;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable buckle plates for the adhesive traction strips;

Figure '7 is a similar view of the connection between the arm and forearm splint frames; and

Figure 8 is a plan view (partly in section and partly broken away) showing the base member adjusted for the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, these illustrate the improved apparatus as comprising a telescoping base member made up of two telescoping tubular sections 10, 11, whereby the support is adapted for attachment to beds of different widths, such as a hospital bed or the ordinary double bed in private homes. The ends of the telescoping portions of the members 10, 11, are formed with a cooperating lip 12 and flange 13, respectively, for the purpose of preventing the sections from becoming entirely disconnected. The base or mounting member is rigidly connected to the rails 14 of the bed by means of a pair of clamping bolts 16 formed with a pair of prongs 17 for engagement with the bed rails 14, each of the bolts 16 being provided with a wing nut 18 for effecting clamping engagement with the rail 14, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. One of the screws 16 is threaded through the end of the base section 11, while the other screw is mounted. in a clip 15 adapted for adjustable clamping engagement with the base section 10, as required. In Figure 3 the screws are shown reversed for effective engagement with the angle type of side rail 14' now in common use.

Fitted into the end of the base section 10 is an axle member 20 formed with a pintle 21 for the purpose of journaling the combination pendulum and splint supporting member 22, which is formed with a suitable opening for mounting upon the pintle 21, and retained in place by means of a cotter pin 24 (Figures 1-3). A counterweight element 25 of suitable mass is slidingly mounted upon the lower end of the tube 22, for the purpose of counterbalancing the load to be imposed upon the other or upper end of the tube 22, as hereinafter explained, the weight 25 having a thumb screw 26 for clamping the weight in any particular adjusted position.

While the pendulum arm 22 is adapted for use with various forms of splint devices, of other well known types, I have designed an improved type of cradle splint construction adapted for detachable connection with the upper end of said pendulum arm 22, the drawings showing this construction as comprising a frame made up of two parallel arms 30 having threaded terminal portions 31 bent atv right angles and carrying a plate 32 for clamping engagement with the end of the arm 22, which is formed with suitable openings for the terminals 31, the latter in turn being provided with wing nuts 33 for clamping engagement with the opposite side of the arm 22, as illustrated in Figure 4. The other ends of the arm 30 of the splint frame are formed with a circular or yoke shaped portion 35, each side of which carries a cylindrical cushioning element 36 of soft or pure gum rubber, designed for counterbracing action by engagement with the chest muscles of the patient, two of these cushioning elements being provided for adapting the splint structure for use at either side of the patient, according to which arm is undergoing treatment. The arms 30 of the splint frame are also connected by adjustable straps 38 provided with buckles 39 and carrying felt pads 40 serving as cradling support for the arm, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

For use in applying an adhesive traction in connection with the splint frame, I employ a pair of adjustable plates 42 each carrying a swivel buckle 43 for the adjustable attachment of an adhesive strip or tape 44, the plate 42 being formed with slots 45 for adjustment by means 1 of a screw 46 and wing nut 47, the screw 46having a terminal hook 48 for the attachment of a chain 49 which operates around either of a pair of pulleys 50 which are journaled upon pins 51 carried by the plate 32 and a second plate 52 connecting the pins 51 in spaced relation to said plate 32, as shown in Figure 4.

The chain 49 also operates around a pulley 54 mounted in a swivel element 55 supported by a stem 56 which is secured by a clip 5'7 and clamping nut and screw 58 to the base member 10, adjacent to the axle 20 of the pendulum arm 22, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5.

The lower end of this chain 49 is provided with a hook 58 for the attachment of a weight hanger 59 carrying a set of weights 60, whereby a variable tension may be applied to the chain and the strips 44.

To the plate 32 intermediate the pulleys 50. is also attached a short chain 61 carrying a cotter pin 62 for insertion through the links of the chain 49 in the operation of adjusting and temporarily retaining the tension, as hereinafter explained.

For flexed conditions of the arm, I also provide a cradle splint structure for the forearm, which comprises a frame made up of two parallel arms 64 connected by an upturned yoke portion 65 and also provided with terminal clamping elements 66 and thumb screws 6'7 for rotatively securing said arms to one of the arms 30, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The arms 64 are also provided with a strap 38 and felt pad 40 for supporting the forearm, as well as a hand grip element 68 connecting the arm 64 intermediate the pad 40 and the yoke 65.

The yoke portion 65 also carries a clamping element 69 and thumb screw '70 for clamping engagement with a suspension arm '71 which slidably engages the element 69, and at its other end is provided with a clamping element 72 and thumb screw 73 for securing this end of the arm '71 to the other arm 30 of the splint structure.

With the construction above described, it will be understood that when the apparatus is in use with the splint structure properly applied to the patient, the action is such that the weight 25 of the pendulum arm 22 substantially balances the load on the other end of said arm, thus relieving the patient of any uncomfortable burden when making certain movements, as when rising to a sitting position as represented in Figure 2.

Again during all the positions or movements of the arm, the traction applied by means of the weights 60 is maintained constant, without any variation due to the change in the patients position, since the chain 49 carries the tension around the pulley 54, or adjacent to the axis of the pendulum arm 22. A further feature of advantage in the present construction is in the fact that, in the case of an X-ray inspection being desired to check up the condition of the fracture and the proper traction for the case, this may be conveniently done by merely removing the splint frame 30 and other parts associated therewith, from the pendulum arm, in order that the proper tension may be secured by a manual operation while placed under the fluoroscope, which tension is temporarily held by insertion of the cotter pin 62 into that link of the chain 49 which is next to the pulleys 50. When the patient is returned to the bed, it is then only necessary to remount the splint structure upon the arm 22, and reconnect the weights 60 to the chain 49, adding or removing weights 60 until the pressure on the cotter pin is released, thus indicating that the weights have equalized the tension in accordance with the adjustments made under the fluoroscope. For subsequent inspection, or adjustment of the traction, it is obvious that the tension may be maintained by reinserting the cotter pin 62 into the chain 49 before removal of the splint structure in order that the condition as regards traction may be preserved during the time of inspection and adjustment. For a splint construction of the type shown, the cradle support for the forearm is a valuable and useful accessory, being adjustable with reference to the arms 30 in a vertical direction, by means of the clamps 69 and 72, whereby the suspension arm 71 will operate to support the cradling arms 64 at any desired elevation, while comfortably carrying the forearm in the desired position during all the movements of the patient, for example, as he changes back and forth from the position shown in Figure 2.

As ah'eady indicated, the base mounting is conveniently adjustable for different widths of beds, by merely changing the telescoping adjustment of the parts 10, 11, and the pendulum arm may be mounted at either side of the bed, by simply changing from the position shown in Figure 1 to that illustrated in Figure 3. When the splint structure is applied to the pendulum arm 22, in the position shown in Figure 3, this results in reversal of the position of the yoke 35 with reference to. they patient, utilizing the other pad or cushion 36 for counterbracing against the chest muscles of the patient, the opposite pad 36 remaining out of contact with patient. In whichever position the splint structure is used, either right or left, the lower portion of the yoke 35 is open, thus permitting the patient to support both his shoulders upon the bed, without any uncomfortable pressure being exerted by any appliance or extension projecting around under heath the shoulder to which the splint structure is applied. Therefore, the patient is allowed to rest with as much comfort as possible, without any unnecessary restrictions or pressures being.

applied to the shoulder region. In the event of the case requiring full abduction, with an unflexed condition of the forearm, and this being required to be supported in extended position, as illustrated in Figure 3, a special, longer form of splint structure, with the proper length of arms 30, is used and the base mounting correspondingly extended to project the axle 21 out a suflicient distance away from the bed to accommodate this extended position of the arm; the other operations all remain substantially the same as before, including the application of tractive tension through the medium of adhesive strips 44 and buckle plates 42 attached to the weights 60.

It will thus be apparent that I have devised a practical and eflicient abduction frame construction for fulfilling all the desired objects of my invention, and while I have illustrated what is now regarded as the preferred form of embodiment of the various improvements, I desire to reserve the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An abduction frame appliance for beds, comprising a transverse base member having means for securing the same to the bed rails, an arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon one end of said base member, a splint structure carried by one end of said arm, and counterweighting means carried by the other end of said arm.

2. An abduction frame appliance comprising a supporting arm pivotally mounted, a splint structure carried by said arm, and traction means for said splint structure including a weight device and a pair of pulleys, and a flexible connection attached to said weight and operating over said pulleys, one of said pulleys accommodating the weight-carrying end of said connection and the other pulley being carried by the splint-supporting end of said arm.

3. An abduction frame appliance comprising a pivotally mounted supporting arm, a splint structure removably connected with said arm, traction means for said splint structure including a weight device transmitting a tension pull in a path approximately intersecting the axis of movement of said supporting arm, and means for preserving a fixed set tension in said traction means during temporary removal of the splint structure from said arm.

4. An abduction frame appliance comprising a pivoted supporting arm, a splint structure carried by said arm, and traction means for said splint structure including a weight device provided with a pair of pulleys and a flexible connection for transmitting a pulling tension, one of said pulleys being located for suspending said weight device beneath the pivoted portion of said arm and the other pulley being carried by said arm for engagement with said connection between said first pulley and said splint structure.

5. An abduction frame appliance comprising a pivoted supporting arm, a splint structure removably and reversibly connected with said arm, and traction means for said splint structure comprising a weight and flexible connection operating around a pulley adjacent to the pivotal axis of said supporting arm, said splint device being provided with a pair of adjoining pulleys for accommodating said flexible connection in either position of the splint device.

6. In a splint structure, an upper arm supporting frame comprising a pair of upper and lower rods in parallel relation, a forearm cradle support having a slidingly adjustable connection with the lower rod of said frame, and a suspension arm having one of its ends provided with a slidingly adjustable connection with the upper rod of said frame and the other end of said suspension arm having a longitudinal slidingly adjustable connection with the free outer end of said cradle support.

JOHN R. SIEBRANDT. 

